GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Playback Listening
In the Thread: Some Observations about Science and Bass

Post Subject: Negative FeedbackPosted by Vasyachkin on: 7/21/2010

Paul S wrote:
But I do appreciate your applied thoughts on the evils of feedback loops.

I don't think that feedback loops are evil. They solve some problems and create others.

Your human body employs a virtually infinite number of such loops as part of its design - and the human body is by far the most advanced work of engineering. In fact the very engineering process that gave birth to it - evolution - is itself a negative feedback loop.

evolution however is based on trial and error and REAL-LIFE performance. Evolution doesn't care about arbitrary parameters like %THD - it cares about WHAT WORKS BEST, it cares about the END RESULT.

Generally speaking the more advanced a system ( not talking about audio systems here ) is the more negative feedback loops it will have. But also the more advanced a system the more it is also likely to be a failure. Some of the simplest systems like a nail in mechanical engineering or a virus in biology - are some of the most successful ones. And some of the most complex systems - like communism - are some of the biggest disasters.

the problem with feedback loops is that they usually increase complexity. but not always. for example capitalism is based on feedback loops and is simpler than communism - and it works better.

a feedback loop is a very powerful tool - and like most powerful tools it can be used for good or for evil.

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